March, where have you been all my life

February was a long month, espeically considering that it only consists of 28 days. For those of you who have followed my blog for at least a year, and by that I mean my mom, you'll remember this post describing my general feeling toward the gray and dreary month.

But March is here! I love March!

I haven't had a lot of time to write but hopefully that is going to change soon! Here are a list of things that I have been thinking about expanding upon.

I have discovered so many wonderful new little blogs that need to be shared - beware that none of them have to do with sports

I love my friends, all of them.

I had a lot of stiches in the month of February (more incentive to hate the month) and I have eight left and they itch like crazy!!! I can't wait to get them out. 

Spring Training is here and I can hardly wait for Opening Day. Oh how I've missed baseball season.

I miss the softball team like crazy.

I'm working on a side project and when it is better developed I will share it with all of you. It's satirical commentary on my life in an LDS singles ward.

I'm inspired by the people around me who are so talented. Check out my photographer friend Jenny's blog.

Everyday I am baffled by the kindness of people around me, don't worry it is oftentimes mixed my shock at the appalling actions of others, but I find hope in the random acts of kindness people perform.

I can't wait to take a vacation.

I'm hoping to move really soon!!! Cut down my commute time and get to spend more time at home, plus get an awesome roommate and a fantastic apartment.

I realized I have a commitment problem - more on that later.

Moving on

Today marks a pretty big step in my life. Today is my last day at BYU Athletic Communications and my last day living in Provo, Utah.

After I finished getting ready this morning I looked in the mirror and was shocked by how grown up I have become (although saying I look like a grown up pretty much means that I am not one year).

I will start my new job at Let It Fly a division of Experience Best. I will be moving back to Castle Rock, Colorado tomorrow to begin my adult life. I must qualify this statement of my adult life with the fact that I will be moving back into my parents home to save money - so don't be fooled about my adultness.

I am very excited to start with Let It Fly. I am going to get some great experience and I am going to be traveling all over the country. Check out their tournament dates to see some of the cities.

Despite my enthusiasm for my new job and moving back to the greatest place in the world, I am slightly nervous to step away from the life that I have built for myself during the past five years.

Here are some photos of some of my favorite memories with some of my favorite people in Provo.










I am especially going to miss this:

Just Around the Corner

Opening day is almost here. After what seems like an endless Spring Training it is almost officially baseball season!!!!!! (in case you can't tell by me six exclamation points, I'm really excited)

Now, I don't live close enough to a MLB team to actually experience opening day firsthand, but I will be watching it with joy in my heart!

There is something special about the fresh cut grass, the players in uniform in their home stadiums, 25-man rosters set, sun shining down on your skin while watching the greatest game.

I think I had an additional amount of excitement this season because I feel like I have been stuck inside and endless winter. The kind that hasn't risen above 60 or melted all the snow of the mountains. Well, forget the mountains, there is still snow in my backyard.

I just can't wait. I probably won't make it to an MLB game until the end of May when I get to head back to Denver for a jaunt at Coors Field, but I'll be at the BYU games, and hopefully I will find the time to see a few Bees games. Although, I might wait until I see who makes the opening day roster.

Opening day represents the beginning of summer, an end of all the March Madness and the warmpth of well... not winter.

Spectating

Yesterday I had to opportunity to attend a baseball game as a spectator for the first time since I watched my cousin Eddie's team play against the Angels' scout team past summer.

I've seen plenty of games since then, but they were all while I was working.

Please do not misunderstand me, because I love working baseball games, but there is something different about sitting in the stands, feeling the sun on your skin, watching the game, listening to the sounds of the ball park.

As I sat at the BYU vs. Utah game at Franklin Covey field I turned to Carey and proclaimed, "I should do this for the rest of my life."

It's an interesting aspiration considering my dream job would be in the Bigs, but I always want to be able to be out at a baseball game and be able to love every minute of it.

As I learn more and more about the sport, spectating becomes increasingly more satisfying. Shane Loux spent several summer nights teaching me how to tell what pitch was thrown while he was charting.

After spending time soaking in the knowledge of scouts every night, I can begin to see things in the game that I never saw before.

I had a great time sitting at the park and taking it all in, without having to worry about writing a game recap, injury updates, posting lineups, noting lineup changes, feeding stats to TV or tracking down obscure stats from years past.

But getting to do that for my job is pretty good too.

Dear Jason

Dear Jason,

You Jerk. Melissa was too good for you anyway. Enjoy heartless Molly. Enjoy public scrutiny for your despicable behavior.

Go Melissa.

I've heard rumors that ABC made Jason do it this way if he wanted to be with Molly and all I can say is what an A-Hole he is for agreeing to it.

I hope Jason and Molly break up. Today.

Best of Luck,

Jillian

P.S. See, I'm girlie if I watch the Bachelor.

What ever happened to...

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Topic of conversation this morning at work.

I used to love this kid. I had a JTT poster on my wall when I was in fourth grade. I would get Teen Beat and Bop Magazine just for the pictures of him.

After much googling, I have determined that no one knows anything about what he is currently up to.

Check out this blog that I found about it. The comment stream is awesome!!!

Groundhog Day

It must be acknowledged in my blog that the Steelers have won the Super bowl. The biggest sporting even in America. That is all that I will say about if for now. 

I would like to turn my attention to the phenomena of Groundhog Day. 

First off, there is a kick-A movie about the strange holiday. It is one of my dad's favorite movies and it is always on TV. I used to despise watching it, but I find myself tuning into it whenever it is on now. It is funny how we tend to like things that remind us of our childhood, and that movie is just one of those things. 

Secondly, I think it is amazing of this ritual has survived over time. It isn't known exactly how the tradition began, but its current form originates from the early 1800's in Pennsylvania. I love how the tradition stands the test of time. 

I was just reading about about an American immigrant and I marveled at his home country's customs that carried over into his American life. From the food he ate, the company he kept and rights of passage that survived from his former life. As I read about this, I wondered what customs from my culture do I carry with me, there are many but Groundhog Day counts as one of them.

In 2008 14 different groundhogs predicted the fate of the cold winter.  Punxsutawney Phil is the  most famous groundhog and last year he predicted six more weeks on winter. While I realize that it is ludicrous to assume that a small animal can tell how longer winter is going to last, I distinctly remember media day with the Salt Lake Bees on April 1, when it had snowed so much the day before. In my mind a long winter was just the right assessment. 

So tomorrow morning a little groundhog will tell me whether or not I will not need to scrape the ice of my windshield every single morning from now until June. I am hoping that tomorrow is a cloudy day and Phil does not retreat to his burrow because I don't know how much more of the freezing cold winter I can take. 

Excitement

There are a few things that I am really excited for right now.

1. I am so excited for Spring Training. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 14/15!!! I am so ready for baseball to begin.

2. Prospects. After spending some time working in the minors I have really loved watching young prospects make a name for themselves. Some prospects that I am really excited for are Kevin Jepsen, Dexter Fowler, Nick Adenhart and Matt LaPorta. There are so many more but I can't wait to see their major league career bloom.

3. Not having homework!

4. Planning trips. (Shout out to Jenny on that one)

5. Making things happen.

Growing Up

So it turns out that growing up is not very fun.

All of these grown up things keep happening in my life and I'm freaking out a little bit.

If I could just put it off for a little bit I would love that!!

2008 In Pictures

So I found this wonderful collection of photos from 2008.

I'm posting a few of the photos, but they are all amazing. Take the time to look through them.

The first two parts have already been posted but the third one will come out tomorrow. I'll link it for you then.

It's amazing to consider what goes on across the world and how every culture is so different. Many of these photos come from places ravaged by natural disaster, torn apart from war, the remains of forgotten communities, the mechanical feats of the human race and the physical demands of athletics.

I am humbled by how little I was aware of some of these events.

These photos are amazing! I must warn you that some of them are rather graphic (bloodshed), but you have to click to view the ones deemed offensive, so your safe.


Click here for the first set

Click here for the second set

School's Out Forever!

So it maybe took me a semester past four years but I finally graduated!

It hasn't really set in yet, but I am sure that when school starts next semester it will hit me. I think it will be amazing to do what I love and not have to worry about homework at the same time!

I did my final presentation for my capstone last week and my team rocked it (little shout out to Jeanette and Marianne for all their hard work this semester)!!! It was the culmination of four months of hard work from research to brainstorming to a lot of designing. I feel like the client was really pleased with our work too!

So I'm at a crossroads in life. BYU has offered to let me stay on as a graduate assistant and I am going to stay there until I find the right job for me. I'm really lucky to have a place that I can work while I transition it this quasi-adult life.

It will be sad to leave BYU behind and it will be unbelievably scary to leave everything that I have grown to love in these past five years.

I'm incredibly grateful for an institution that has really shaped me into who I am. I've learned so much while at BYU from an educational standpoint and I've grown in ways I didn't see imaginable.

But part of growing up is taking risks and jumping out into the world that is daring to eat me alive.

So here I come world (I say in a really dramatic stance because it's easy to have that stance from the comfort of my little Provo world).

Me

The bad thing about you win some you lose some and some get rained out is that it applies not only in sports, but also in life.

Today I lost some.

Thoughts on a Thanksgiving Morning

It is hard not to think about everything that I am grateful for. I feel as though my cup runeth over. I have been blessed abundantly in so many ways.

I have such an amazing family! I am grateful that through all the craze, divorces and issues we have pulled through it all by relying on each other. Today it is just my mother and I, we are going over to a friends house after we finish baking all the pies. Justin and Brooke are in Logandale with Brooke's family and Jeff and Jenna are in Kalamazoo with Jenna's family. This is the first time that the three of us have been apart on Thanksgiving.

Not to give all the love to my two older brothers, but I am remarkably blessed to be so close to both sets of my parents, my aunts and uncles and all my cousins. I love spending time with all of them and miss them all like crazy when I'm in Utah.

I have to recognize my framily, you know my friends that have become my family. I really have the best friends in the world. I can't express how lucky I am to have so many wonderful friends who care about me. From Grey's to boats to breakups and marriages we have all been there for each other, through our highs and our lows.

I am grateful for the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. Last night I got the opportunity to go to the Colorado Avalanche. During the National Anthem I found myself thinking about how grateful I am to the founding fathers who recognized the ideals and truths that have become the foundation of this Country. We might be going through some rocky times, but we will prevail.

I am grateful to be a woman. Not that there is anything wrong with men (well...). Women are powerful beyond anyone's expectations. I hope to retain my womanhood through all my endeavors in. I aspire to be like the strong women who have paved the way for me through the workplace, the political arena, in the home and in communities. I am grateful to those who had to sacrifice so much to design the path.

I am also really grateful to be able to watch my little brother Reggie grow up. I marvel at the world that he will experience, though only 14 years younger than me, his perspective will be remarkably different than mine. He is growing up in a post-9/11 society, he sees the bad with the good that at his age I never knew existed.

I am grateful to be educated. I really feel that knowledge is power. By gaining an education you better understand the world you live in and your place in it. I am especially grateful to be educated in an environment like BYU. I have been able to explore so many different subjects at the feet of brilliant minds, while getting a religious influence in my life as well.

I am grateful for my faith. It has shaped me and changed my heart in so many ways. I never imagined I would be the person that I am today.

There really is so much more that I am grateful for. Things that have shaped my life and things that are small and insignificant. I'm going to list a few without going into detail to spare you before you stop reading.

Sports (duh, did you really think I wouldn't mention that one), My car, Nordstrom, Diet Pepsi/Coke, Pie, Thanksgiving dinner, the recently lowered gas prices, Art, running shoes, airplanes, my work, the experience I had with the Salt Lake Bees and therefore the Angels, Boys who have hurt my heart or who's hearts I've hurt, communication tools, mentors, ugh...the Jazz (just because without them the Bees wouldn't exist J/K Hannah, Go Jazz!), Memories, movies and love!

Brick Walls

Brick walls hurt.

I’ve never run into one, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t feel good.

Running into life’s brick walls hurt. I’ve done that.

“The brick walls are there for a reason. They’re not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.”

I’ll climb over, sneak around or bust through.

How bad do you want it?

Optimism Shot

Umm.... Maybe you've already noticed but it's cold outside. I needed a jacket to go out at night. This sucks.

My Last First Day of School

So I'm starting my last semester of college on Tuesday. I can't wait!!!!!
I wish that I was already done because I feel ready to move on from the school phase of my life.

It is strange that I have been out of my parents house for four years, and I am embarking on my adult life. I don't quite feel like an adult, but in my experience I've learned that you never feel any different.

Saying goodbye to the summer is sad, I'm not ready for the cold weather and gloomy skies that accompany Autumn in Utah.

Despite my pessimism for the end of summer and the return of school, I've decided to write a list of all the things that the changes of the season brings that I like.

1. No more sweating in the blazing sun.
2. Fall clothes, so many more options.
3. The World Series and football.
4. Baking with Pumpkin ingredients.
5. The Broncos.
6. Halloween costumes.
7. Back-to-school sales.
8. Sweaters.
9. Tucanos, for FREE!!!
10.GRADUATION!!!!!!

Ok, so maybe my list is a little bit of a stretch, but I'm trying to stay positive here.

So I haven't had much to write about during these past few days. It is rather uncharacteristic of my to not voice my opinions or beliefs.

With summer coming to a close and school coming in my imminent futures I am faced with a strange and puzzling situation.

I do not want to face the real world, I do not want to grow up and become a responsible adult. Call it peter pan syndrome, call it fear, I don't really care. All I know is that it sucks.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Ok all I have recently discovered these great new things that need to be shared.
I must preface two of these with the following disclaimer: If you are not familiar with the Mormon culture, or more specifically the Utah County culture, you may not understand exactly what is so great about these blogs. No worries, the third is to be enjoyed by all.

Seriously So Blessed

Random Utah County Greatness

Stuff White People Like

Stop This Train

Growing up is inevitable. We have not choice but to do it. I've been fighting this process for quite some time. I feel like life is too short, too sweet and too enjoyable to spend tall my time trying to get ahead.

I've recently discovered what I want to do for my career, and I'm really happy doing it. I can't imagine doing something else and being anywhere near as happy.

So I've been spending a lot of time working and trying to do well. I realized that I've been growing up and not even realizing it.

I would rather spend my time growing up an enjoying it rather than fighting the process and missing out on so many wonderful opportunities before me.

Beside, I've recently learned that you're never too old to dress up like a cowboy and play with toy guns like little kids.

I Won't Hesitate No More

When I was reviewing Sara's comment from my previous post it really got me thinking why in the world did I post that on my blog. What in the world was I thinking?

But then I remember I put it there for the intent to bring joy for one person. Instead I really made a fool of myself on the internet for anyone to see.

So, it got me thinking: Why Do We Do the Things We Do?


Meaning, what in the world could posses our normally sane minds to act the way that we do sometimes. I know I have done some stupid things to get a laugh out of a group of people. I've acted like a fool to get a certain boy's attention. I've done some foolish things just because I could and I just don't know why in those moments it seems completely worth it.

Typically it makes for a good laugh down the road, but sometimes it brings a great deal of embarrassment, typically in the name of attention.